Naqsh-e Jahan Square, formerly known as Shah Square or the Royal Square (and after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 with the official name of Imam Square), is the central square of Isfahan, which is located in the heart of the historical complex of Naqsh-e Jahan.
History of Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Historical monuments on the four sides of “Naqsh-e Jahan Square” include Aali Qapu Palace, Shah Mosque (Imam Mosque), Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and Qeysarieh Gate, which is the main entrance of Isfahan Bazaar. In addition, there are two hundred two-story shops around the square, which are generally a market for Iranian Art and handicrafts. Before the city of Isfahan was chosen as the capital of Safavid Empire, there had been a Naqsh-e Jahan garden that was also the location of government buildings and the palace of the Timurid and Agh Quyunlu rulers.
The construction of the square in its current form was performed during the reign of Shah Abbas I in 1598. Two architects called Mohammad Reza Isfahani and Ali Akbar Isfahani are known as designers and builders of the square who built it in its current form. The names of these two architects can be seen on the entrances of the buildings around the square. Sheikh Baha’i has also been in charge of designing and supervising the construction of some surrounding structures. The French traveler Jean Chardin who traveled to Isfahan in 1673, called Naqsh-e-Jahan the most beautiful square in the world.
Function
During the reign of Shah Abbas the Great and his successors, this square was prepared for polo competitions, army parades, lighting, and various shows during the days of royal celebrations, and on other days it was a place for people to walk and shop. Two pairs of polo stone goal posts still remain on the sides of the field referred to as the oldest polo goal posts in the world.
The Naqsh Jahan square was also the site of massive Friday markets. One of the first official ceremonies held in this square was a feast in honor of the triumphant return of Imam Gholi Khan from the conquest of Hormuz Island to the capital (Isfahan). Chardin quotes that up to 50,000 lights were lit in the square during the festivities. Detailed description of this square has been given by famous European travelers such as Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Pietro Delavalle, Sanson, Engelbert Kempfer and others who have visited Isfahan since Safavid times, and all of them have praised the beauty of the square. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, this square is also a place for holding Friday prayers and political gatherings.
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Places to visit at Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Each of the historical monuments built in this square was a symbol of civil life, urban community and also national solidarity. The Abbasi Grand Mosque or Shah Mosque on the south side of the square served as the largest social center of Isfahan. This mosque was built for large gatherings of people on various occasions. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on the east side of the square was a private religious center for the royal family , and Aali Qapu palace located on the west side of square was the main government building.
The length of Naghsh Jahan Square is 560 meters and its width reaches 160 meters. The square is surrounded by 200 shops that form a fantastic handicraft market.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square Plan
Naqsh-e Jahan Square is massive, stretching over 160 meters wide and 560 meters long. Surrounding the square are some of the most important landmarks in Persian history: Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, and the Qeysarie Gate.
The square is designed with symmetry in mind, a hallmark of Persian architectural thought. At its center is a large open space that was once used for polo matches and celebrations. Today, the square remains a vibrant place, with tourists, locals, and vendors filling the space.
Click on the image to enlarge
During the Safavid Era, architecture style and ornamentation of built structures were among the most important arts. The Safavid constructions in Iran are probably the most attractive monuments throughout Iranian architecture. Artists and architects of Safavid Period have left masterpieces of art, most of which were executed on the orders of Shah Shah Abbas І, who was an art lover king. A collection of remarkable buildings, including Chehel Sotoun Palace, Hasht Behesht, Mirror Hall, Namakdan pavilion, Ashraf Hall, etc. were all constructed in this magnificent period.
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1
Aali Qapu Palace
Aali Qapu Palace in Naghsh Jahan Square of Isfahan is one of the most beautiful examples of Safavid architecture. Aali Qapu building attracts the attention of many domestic and foreign visitors with its outstanding architecture and remarkable decorations by famous Iranian artists. The most important parts of Aali Qapu Palace are the entrance to the palace, luxurious halls, music hall on the top floor and prominent works of art in different parts of the palace. The main foundations of this palace are built of wood, and this adds to the architectural appeal of this place. The site is located on the west side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square, in front of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. In the past, the Aali Qapu mansion was also referred to as the “blessed government house” or the “palace of the government”. The Palace has an area of 1800 square meters and 6 floors. It was built in the early 17th century.
Aali Qapu Palace, Isfahan, Iran
Function
The Aali Qapu Palace is one of the buildings that have undergone many changes during decades and it was expanded during the reign of Shah Abbas the great and was officially used for formal occasions, gatherings, meetings and also a royal balcony to watch games and competitions. The word “Aali Qapu” consists of two parts, Aali and Qapu, which together mean “High Gate”.
Architectural Highlights
Ali Qapu is famous for its grand terrace, supported by 18 wooden columns. The view from this terrace offers a breathtaking panorama of the entire square. Inside, the walls are adorned with delicate frescoes and intricate plasterwork that reflect Persian art’s height during the Safavid period. It is a 6-storey building with a height of about 48 meters. In this building, different floors are connected to each other by three narrow stair cases. On the first floor, there are two main halls called “Sadr Khaneh” or “Kashik Khaneh”, used for administrative affairs.
Music Hall of Aali Qapu
One of the most beautiful part of the Aali Qapu Palace is the music hall located on the top floor. On the walls and ceiling of this hall, there are beautiful plaster work with delicate cut out decorative compartments that enhanced the acoustic effect reflecting the sound of music in the hall.The music hall has three rooms, two are large and the other is smaller.
Cut out style stucco, Aaliqapu, Isfahan
Stucco is one of the most important features of the architecture especially within the Safavid Period, and when flourished, the cut out style of design was invented. One of the finest and most captivating examples of the cut out style in this period can be found on the sixth floor of the Ali Qapu Palace (Music hall). This type of stucco is in the form of bowls, bottles and and ewer. These decorations have been innovatively incorporated into the ceiling of the room, which mesmerizes every visitor. The whole room is covered with cutout style decorations with the surface being painted with artistic floral and animal motifs by the most famous artists of that era. This is an inventive method of the Safavid Period and there is no sign of such artwork before Safavids.
Also Read: Chehel Sotoon Palace of Isfahan
2
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Isfahan was chosen as the capital of Iran in 1598. At the same time, Urban development and constructions such as Chahar Bagh Street, Naqhsh-e Jahan Square, Imam Mosque, etc. It was during this period that Shah Abbas ordered the construction of Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah, and thus the foundation of the new mosque was laid on the ruins of an old mosque located in this place. Architect Mohammad Reza Isfahani took charge of building this mosque, which was able to build an amazing building in 18 years. Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque was reserved only for Shah Abbas and the royal family, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter it. It seems that Shah Abbas used to worship in this mosque every day from the opening of the mosque in 998 AH until the end of his life.
Sheikh Lotfallah was one of the greatest Shi’ite scholars who lived in the Jabal Amel region of present-day Lebanon. He emigrated to Iran with the official invitation of Shah Abbas I along with some other Shi’ite leaders to spread the teachings of Shi’ism as a new sect in Iran.
Layout of the Mosque
The layout of this mosque is unusual because it has neither a minaret nor a courtyard, and because there are steps leading up to the entrance. This was probably because the mosque was never a public mosque and was intended to serve as the worship place for the women of the shah’s harem. The sanctuary or prayer hall is reached via a twisting hallway where the eyes become accustomed to the darkness as subtle shifts of light play across deep blue tilework. This hallway is integral to both the design and function of the mosque because it takes the worshipper from the grand square outside into a prayer hall facing Mecca, on a completely different axis.
Sheikh Lotfullah Mosque, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan
The main prayer hall of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque amazes you with its art and spirituality. This sanctuary is a square with sides of 19 meters inside which, the complexity of the mosaics that decorate the walls and the extraordinarily beautiful dome, with its shrinking, yellow motifs, is a masterpiece of art. The shafts of sunlight that filter in through the few high, latticed windows produce a constantly changing interplay of light and shadow that enrich the space and give a tangible quality to empty air. The Mihrab is one of the finest in Iran and has an unusually high niche; a calligraphic montage names the architect and the date 1619 AD.
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3
Isfahan Imam Mosque
Imam mosque, formerly known as Shah mosque or Abbasi grand mosque is the most important religious place of the Safavid period in the city of Isfahan, which is important both in terms of architectural grandeur and artistic features. Construction of the Abbasi Grand Mosque, which is located on the south side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square begun in 1611 by the order of Shah Abbas I and and lasted for 18 years. Though some fine decoration projects continued even after the king’s death.
Imam Mosque interior, Isfahan
Imam Mosque Plan
The main entrance of this mosque is located on the south side of the square. There are other entrances in the neighborhoods around the building (for faster and easier access to the people of the neighborhood). Behind the entrance starts a corridor that leads visitors to the inner courtyard. It makes an angle of 45 degrees, aimed at aligning the mosque with Mecca while maintaining the integrity of the square.
The height of the huge dome of Imam Mosque is 52 meters, the height of the southern Iwan minarets is 48 meters and the height of the minarets at its entrance in Naqsh-e Jahan Square is 42 meters.
Here is the full plan of Imam mosque:
4
Isfahan Grand Bazaar
Dating back to more than 400 years ago, Isfahan Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest known markets in the Middle East. This bazaar of Isfahan was built during the Safavid period and expanded during the Qajar period (19th century). According to some historians, it was the grand bazaar that shaped the architecture of Isfahan, but now this historical bazaar is limited to Naqsh-e Jahan Square to the Friday Mosque of Isfahan.
There are shops in this market that continuously offered the same goods from 400 years ago until today. This market, which in the past hosted various businesses such as bookbinding, box making, tailoring, weaving, blacksmithing and shoe making, is now mostly dedicated to selling clothes, Persian carpets, sweets and souvenirs. Isfahan Bazaar is the best place to prepare souvenirs of Isfahan because you can find almost all the local foods and handicrafts of Isfahan.
Qeysarie Gate
Qeysarie Gate, located at the northern end of the square, once served as the entrance to Isfahan’s Grand Bazaar. This gate was more than just a passage; it was a symbol of Isfahan’s prosperity and trade connections. Through this gate, merchants from across the Silk Road entered the city, bringing goods from China, India, and Europe. You can easily find this entrance from afar thanks to its magnificent old wooden gate with 400 year old decorations on the top.
In Qeysarie Bazaar, there are several mosques, baths, as well as schools (Madrasas).
Qeysarie Gate, Isfahan, Iran
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Fragments of History
Apart from the existing buildings, there are other monuments in Naghsh-e Jahan Square that have gradually lost their use and disappeared. Marble capitals that probably came to Isfahan from Persepolis (one has been transferred to Chehel Sotoon Palace and the other is in the National Museum of Iran in Tehran), 110 Spanish cannons (the booty coming from conquered Hormuz Island by Imam Qoli Khan) and a 40m high memorial column In the center of the square (which is completely gone today) are among them. Also near the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, there was a school called Khajeh Malek School (later Sheikh Lotfollah School) which was destroyed during the Qajar period.
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Naqsh-e Jahan Square UNESCO Site
In 1979, Naqsh-e Jahan Square was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its global cultural significance. This designation has helped preserve the square and its surrounding monuments for future generations, ensuring that the artistry of the Safavids remains intact.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square – FAQs
1. Why is Naqsh-e Jahan Square famous?
Naqsh-e Jahan Square is renowned for its massive size, stunning architecture, and historical significance as a center of power in the Safavid Empire.
2. When was Naqsh-e Jahan Square built?
The square was built in the early 17th century during the reign of Shah Abbas I.
3. What does Naqsh-e Jahan mean?
The name translates to “Image of the World,” reflecting Persian ideals of unity and harmony.
4. What are the main attractions at Naqsh-e Jahan Square?
The main attractions are Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Imam Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, and the Qeysarie Gate.
5. Is Naqsh-e Jahan Square still used for public events?
Yes, the square remains a vibrant public space, hosting cultural festivals, religious ceremonies, and tourism activities.
6. Who built Naqsh-e Jahan Square?
Naqsh-e Jahan Square was commissioned by Shah Abbas I and built during the Safavid era, between 1598 and 1629.
7. Where is Imam Square?
Imam Square, another name for Naqsh-e Jahan Square, is located in the city of Isfahan, Iran, at the heart of its historical center.
Wrote: Salman Fatih
How does Naqsh-e Jahan Square manage to preserve its beauty while remaining a vibrant center of social life in modern-day Isfahan?
In Reply to: Salman Fatih
Naqsh-e Jahan Square preserves its timeless beauty through careful restoration efforts and respect for its historical significance. The square’s architecture has been maintained to reflect its original Safavid grandeur, with minimal alterations to its structures. At the same time, it remains a vibrant hub for locals and tourists, with markets, events, and daily activities that bring life to the space without compromising its heritage. This balance between preservation and active use keeps the square both a historical treasure and a living part of Isfahan’s modern culture.